I have a 14 yer old indoor tabby cat. I just got back from a week away and she is breathing hard. It seems like she has to work to get the air in and is breathing through her mouth. She also isn't eating as much. My mom watched her while I was away and said her appetite seemed to decrease as the week went on, but her breathing was fine.

Does anyone have experience with something like this? Part of me thinks I should take her to the vet, but I have had two separate $500 vet visits in the past month and a half for which I was convinced my cat was dying only to be told she is fine. I just can't spend another $500 for nothing.

If my cat of any age had those symptoms I'd already be at the emergency clinic. Not knowing your cat's history and what the 2 vet visits were for, hard to say what would be causing this. She's having to work hard to get oxygen throughout her body and to her brain and this could have several causes - heart lungs, fever, respiratory infection, etc. I would really recommend that she be seen ASAP by a vet.JK

Does anyone have experience with something like this? Part of me thinks I should take her to the vet, but I have had two separate $500 vet visits in the past month and a half for which I was convinced my cat was dying only to be told she is fine. I just can't spend another $500 for nothing.

Yes, I've had experience with something like this. Take her to the vet immediately.

Welcome to Pet Lovers. I was glad to read that you were already on your way to the vet with your kitty. Breating hard could be congestion and an upper respiratory infection, or it could be something more significant.

Unfortunately it was not nothing this time. And from her condition, it seems that I was not overreacting the other times, but that the vet did not run the proper tests. She was breathing heavily due to fluid around her heart. We know it was caused by some sort of cancerous mass, but we didn't do further testing given the possible outcomes. We said our final goodbyes and I held my sweet little baby as she took her final breaths. She was truly the best cat (no offense to any of your cats whom I'm sure try their hardest) and I miss her terribly already. Last night as I was going to bed, my eyes hurting from crying so much, I still called for her to join me. These habits formed for 14 years will be very hard to break.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and for making sure I got my cat to the vet in time to have her last moments be peaceful.

(((((DEG))))I am so, so sorry. I had been checking the board often hoping you'd post that it was a simple thing and easily remedied. I'm glad you got to share 14 years with the best cat in the world. I recently went through a similar situation with my 13 year old kitty. The time's never long enough but precious, none the less.JK

I'm so very sorry for your loss, DEG. I'm sure that finally having some answers is of little comfort right now. But I hope you can somehow find a little bit of peace in the knowledge that your sweet girl isn't suffering any more.

She was truly the best cat (no offense to any of your cats whom I'm sure try their hardest) and I miss her terribly already. Last night as I was going to bed, my eyes hurting from crying so much, I still called for her to join me. These habits formed for 14 years will be very hard to break.

Thank you for your kind thoughts and for making sure I got my cat to the vet in time to have her last moments be peaceful.

so sorry.

-b.... well.. each thinks HE or SHE is the best Cat ever ..and they are so hard to argue with.

I'm so sorry. But when we bring a cat into our homes we make a commitment to take care of him/her -- snd, sadly, the final act of caring for and loving an animal is knowing when to let go and say good-bye. You've been a good caretaker.

I'm so sorry 1DEG on the loss of your cat. I know it hurts a lot not being able to see her or pet on her again right now. I find it reassuring to think that we'll all meet up again at the Rainbow Bridge.

Oh 1DEG, my heart breaks for you. I like most others here know what it's like to say goodbye to the best cat ever. You know you made the right decision to let your darling girl go, but it surely doesn't make the hurt any less.

During the 14 years you shared your home with her, you shared love and comfort, and it's no wonder that you are still looking and calling for her. It takes a while to reorient from a significant change in your world, and many tears.

When you're ready to open your heart again, I'm sure another kitty will appear. Not to take the place of your beloved kitty - no one can ever do that - but to give the love in your heart that is now stuck with nowhere to go a release.

For now, all you can do is cry and cry, and when it seems like there can't possibly be any more tears, you cry some more. And it slowly gets better, and easier.

If you'd like to tell us more about your darling girl and the life you shared with her, we're here to listen and enjoy hearing about the special kitty you shared 14 years with.